HELENA - Ash Grove Cement Company near Montana City has paid a $4,400 dollar penalty and will spend at least $26,500 dollars on a dust collection system after a 10-hour test in spring 2006, which accidentally released almost 800 times its allowed amount of dioxin and furan into the air.
An environmental enforcement specialist with the state, Chad Anderson, says the release was a significant amount, but did not pose a health or environmental hazard because it was short-term.
However, the company was fined for violating Montana's Clear Air Act.
Ash Grove manager Dick Johnson says the company regrets the incident. He says the company is pleased the state has a program where, instead of just paying a fine, Ash Grove can improve the facility and its dust collection capabilities.